Business Resources

Find out what these organizations can do for you!

The Small Business Center (SBC) is the business licensing division of the City of Chicago’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) and the City’s “ONE-STOP-SHOP” for business licensing, public way use permitting, and connecting entrepreneurs to business resources.

IRMA closely monitors legislative and regulatory activity at state and local levels of government, voicing opposition to anti-business proposals and supporting and passing business friendly initiatives.

The Beverly Area Planning Association supports local business associations and member businesses through workshops, shopping initiatives, and a business center with a meeting space and equipment. BAPA also promotes businesses through its online directory.

The Chicago BACP licenses, educates, regulates and empowers businesses to grow and succeed. The BACP provides bi-weekly and monthly informative sessions to help businesses act responsibly and create economic vitality and vibrant communities for the people in Chicago.

The Department of Planning and Development is the principal planning agency for the City of Chicago, overseeing its zoning and land use policies. Its economic development and housing bureaus offer a variety of resources to encourage business and real estate development.

The SBA provides a range of services to support entrepreneurs, including free business counseling, guaranteed business loans, and resources to help small businesses get certified to win government contracts.

The SBAC is a nonpartisan organization that advocates for its members in Washington, DC, Springfield, and Chicago. It provides networking opportunities, educational programming, and exclusive benefits, including discounts and rebates, to its members.

The Community Law Project helps to build, strengthen, and support community-based organizations that are focused on economic development in Chicago’s low-income neighborhoods and that offer the delivery of social services to residents of these areas.

This program from Amex provides materials to attract customers to your business and promote the value of supporting small, independently owned local businesses. It also offers an online map showing nearby small businesses.

Based in Chicago, the Active Transportation Alliance is a non-profit advocacy organization that works to improve conditions for bicycling, walking and transit and engage people in healthy and active ways to get around.